Caramelized Onion And Shiitake Soup With Gruyere Blue Cheese Toasts Recipes

CARAMELIZED ONION AND SHIITAKE SOUP WITH GRUYERE-BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• SOUP: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and sauté 15 minutes or until almost tender, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and cook 40 minutes or until onions are a deep golden brown. Stir occasionally.
• Increase heat to medium, add mushrooms, and cook 10 minutes or until they are tender. Stir frequently. Stir in garlic and thyme sprigs and cook for 2 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high and add wine to pan. Cook 2 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add both cans of broth to pan and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in salt & pepper and discard thyme sprigs.
• TOASTS: Preheat broiler. Arrange bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Top each piece with 1 tsp Gruyère and 1 tsp Gorgonzola. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese has melted. Sprinkle a little chopped thyme over each piece of toast.
• TO SERVE: Ladle about 1 cup of soup into each of 6 bowls and top each serving with 2 pieces of toast.

CARAMELIZED ONION TOASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat 4 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, chopped anchovies, thyme, salt and pepper and cook until the onions are sweet and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, holding the knife parallel to the cutting board, shave off the rounded top and bottom of the baguette with a serrated knife so that it lies flat. Then cut the baguette in half lengthwise to make 2 long slices of bread. Brush both sides of each with the remaining 4 tablespoons butter.
• When the onions are cooked, put the bread slices on a baking sheet and spread with the onions. Garnish with olives and drizzle with olive oil. Place in the oven and bake until the bread is crispy, about 15 minutes. Shower with Parmigiano. Cut into pieces and serve hot.
• Serve the onion toasts alongside an assortment of Italian meats.

ONION SOUP WITH CHEESE TOASTS

Steps:

• In a 5-quart Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat butter and oil over medium. Add onions and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have softened, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Uncover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are dark golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes more. (If bottom of pot gets too dry, add about 1/4 cup water and scrape up browned bits with a wooden spoon.)
• Add port and cook until syrupy, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in both broths and 2 cups water, season with salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Cook 20 minutes. To serve, divide among eight bowls and top each with a cheese toast.
• Freezing Soup
• Let soup cool completely, then pour into airtight containers, leaving 1 inch of space at top. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in microwave or overnight in refrigerator and reheat over low.
• Nutrition Information
• (Per Serving)
• Calories: 261
• Fat: 11.6g (5.2g Saturated Fat)
• Protein: 10.9g
• Carbohydrates: 26.1g
• Fiber: 3.7g

TOASTED BLUE CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONION SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add onions; cook until just beginning to color, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Add sugar and cook until onions are deep golden brown and very soft, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in vinegar and raisins. Season caramelized onions to taste with salt and pepper. Cool. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Arrange 4 bread slices on work surface. Top with cheese, dividing equally. Top each with 1/4 cup caramelized onions. Top with remaining bread slices to form 4 sandwiches. Spread half of butter over tops of sandwiches. Heat heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add sandwiches, buttered side down. Spread remaining butter over tops of bread. Partially cover and cook until bottoms are brown, about 3 minutes. Turn sandwiches over. Cook until second sides brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to cutting board. Cut each sandwich into 6 wedges.

CARAMELIZED ONION SOUP WITH BLUE CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• In pot, melt butter over medium heat; add onions, thyme and 1/4 teaspoons each salt and pepper and sauté for 2 minutes or until starting to soften. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring often, for about 20 minutes or until onions are very soft. Uncover and cook, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes or until caramelized. Increase heat to medium-high; add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add sherry and bring to a boil, scraping up bits stuck to pot. Add beef stock and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently for about 10 minutes or until flavours are blended.
• CROUTONS:.
• Preheat broiler. On a baking sheet, lightly toast both sides of baguette slices. Spread one side with softened blue cheese.
• To serve, stir cream into hot soup and season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into ovenproof soup bowls . Float one crouton in each bowl and broil for about 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Serve immediately.